Criterion is teasing a new game, and we all know that was expected, since they have a game due right now.

Criterion makes awesome arcade racing games, and according to Sarge Sullivan, who is the creative director of Criterion Games, plenty of new details about their upcoming project is on the way.

“Lots of new followers over the holidays. Hello everyone. Got lots to share over the coming months…. going to be BIG,” he said.

This could either be a new Burnout game of a new NFS game, whichever it may be, one thing is for sure, it’s going to rock. Or at least, looking at Criterion’s track record, it will.

We don’t have a lot of details regarding this, but we will keep you updated once we get some new information on what they have been cooking so far.

Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Burnout developers, Criterion feel that they have earned a shot at the Need for Speed franchise, which, they think, is the greatest racing series ever.

While talking with CVG, Matt Webster, Senior Producer, said the success of Burnout opened up the opportunity at the right time: “”If you deliver a high-quality product that’s critically well received and commercially well-received then you’re going to win the ability to call your own shots.”

“Certainly I think another reason why we say the timing was right because we delivered Burnout Paradise and we pushed the boundaries in particular areas – the timing was right.”

“I think they thought we would never ask for the opportunity to do Need for Speed, but we did.”

“I think it’s the same thing with movies. Chris Nolan did Inception because he made millions of dollars for Warners,” he continued.

“You do earn your right for people to be comfortable with you doing Need for Speed, which like I say is the world’s largest, most successful driving franchise.”

I don’t know, I find Burnout better than NFS.

The July release, Need for Speed World, EA’s MMO iteration of the hugely successful racing series, has has ALREADY reached 1 million users, EA has announced. They also announed they will be launching “new features and game-expanding content including more cars, deep performance customization, a new world region and a co-op pursuit mode” soon enough, to keep the game worth it’s purchase, and to increase the player base.

EA also announced that ALL players will have full access to the game from now on, FOR FREE. They now have a halo above their heads.

“Need for Speed fans have played a critical role in making Need for Speed World a success. Fan feedback has helped shape every aspect of the experience – whether it’s the creation of a new feature or improving polish and progression,” said senior producer, John Doyle.

“We’re excited to open the gates so that every Need for Speed World player now has free access to all current and future content including new modes, cars, features and more.”

[VG247]

This is the info we found on Nowgamer. Says reviewer Russell Barnes, “While you’re supposed to be able to open up the game without spending real cash, that’s far from true, to the degree that the game can’t really be classified as F2P at all. For example, non-paying customers cap-out at level 10,” Barnes continues, “meaning only basic Tier 1 cars and challenges are available. In classic MMO terms this is nothing more than a free trial. If you play it right, you’ll cap out in a couple of days meaning you’ll need to buy a Starter Pack from EA which opens up the game and grants you a wedge of the micro-transaction cash known as ‘Boost,’

“Top this off with the fact that certain items are only available to buy with Boost anyway (things like renting better cars, giving yourself a three day 25 per cent XP or cash boost and so on) and you’ve got a very imbalanced economy.”

Check this space for more info on Need for Speed World.

The video shows a cop chasing a… bad guy (?), deploying more cop car units, blocking streets and ramming into the opponent’s car. The cop utltimately takes the bad guy down, to trigger a Burnout style mini-cutscene.

The video can be found below:

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit is due for release on Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and the PC.

Unlike the most recent NFS games there is no story element involved. And that’s not bad at all. These story elements are replaced by cool interface and nice videos before the introduction of each event which doesn’t drag you away from the whole nfs experience. All this blends into what happens on the track and that’s pure heart-pumping action.

First thing you’ll feel while taking the first lap of shift is almost a never before seen sense of speed in such kind of a racing game. When you are moving on 150 mph plus speed you literally feel that and that too in a very scary way. And what adds more to this experience is an extra-ordinary cockpit view. This differentiates shift from every other racing game out there. It’s a dynamic first person camera view which moves according to your movements e.g. when you brake it’ll behave realistically depicting all the g-forces and inertia you go through in real life.

Shift’s cock-pit view is a winner!

The career mode is very well balanced. You get points for almost doing anything. You win races you get stars, you do some drafting you get points, drift and points are yours. Now this all adds up to your progression throughout the career. You unlock higher tier events and cars. Only problem is that there are only 60+ in shift which may seem a little as compared to the likes of Gran Turismo, but the good thing is all these cars are top notch due to a great selection. You can also upgrade and customize your cars and make your favorite ones little bit more competitive. Obviously this requires great deal of cash but you’ll always earn enough to satisfy your needs.

Once again the presentation in shift is top-notch. Shift offers some of the most eye-candy visuals you’ll witness in any racing game this year. Everything from car models to the tracks is gorgeously rendered. But Shift is not about good looks only, the developers have managed to provide an extremely immersive driving experience with a great deal of focus on car physics. Cars behave in a very realistic manner but not so much that will make you throw your controller.

Shift’s visuals are a complete treat to the eye.

Sound is again a highlight of shift. It supports an awesome soundtrack as you come to expect from NFS games. Car engines sound great. And the all so sweet sound of rubber when you brake or drift never gets boring. Shift also offers a very simple yet fun online multiplayer which consists of very few but enough modes to keep you engaged. Quick race is obviously where you start. But there are also other modes like driver dual mode where you compete with other driver with same car provided and try to climb the ladder.

All this makes Need for Speed: Shift a must have racing game for any type of gamer. It offers almost everything you need in a racing game and will satisfy you for a long time. Shift will without any doubt provide a strong competition to the likes of Forza and Dirt 2 for the top spot, as the best racer this year.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox 360.